Episode Summary

Mulder and Scully are asked to help in a case involving Robert Patrick Modell, a murderer possessing a psychic ability to force his will onto people. Due to a brain tumor that is slowly killing him, he is searching for a "worthy adversary" and he forces Mulder into a battle of mind over matter.moreless

whammy

Aside from excellent plotting, what makes this and so many other X-Files episodes great are the character moments. My favorite was the look Mulder gives Pusher after someone pulls an alarm. In that efficient moment, he shares Pusher's complete lack of pity. But Scully had a number of great moments too, especially Gillian Anderson's acting during the climax and the line, "Please explain to me the scientific nature of the

Pusher

Pusher was another perfect and very entertaining episode of The X-Files. I really enjoyed watching because the story was awesome, well written and played out perfectly. It was interesting to see this phenomenon explored and it was fun watching Mulder match wits with Modell. There was action, drama and intrigue along with character and plot development. The guest cast was stellar as usual. I liked seeing Skinner involved when Modell forces his secretary to attack him. I certainly look forward to watching what happens next!!!!!!!!!moreless

Thrilling and emotional with a fast-paced plot and crisp dialogue, "Pusher" is one of the X-Files best standalone episodes.

"Pusher" does everything right. It takes a very simple idea and spins it into a captivating plot that makes the viewer feel invested in the episode.

The best part of the episode was hands down the interaction between Mulder and Scully. It was so well done in this episode, being emotional but not too "cutesy." It showed clearly the depth of emotion between these two people, and it effectively worked this emotion into the story without seeming corny or forceful.The dialogue was spot on. It was at times funny ("explain to me the scientific definiton of 'the whammy'") and it was at other times deep and moving (Mulder saying "Scu--Scull" as he tried not to shoot her). Sometimes in the X-Files the dialogue seems too heavy-handed or over philosophic, but in this episode it was just right.This is a great example of what made the X-Files a great show.moreless

One of my favorite X-Files

What an interesting episode. Robert Modell may not be the usual serial killer but what he does is worse than just killing with his own hands. He messes up with people's minds. Robert Wisden's portrayal of Modell is flawless in what I believe the best (or worst) kind of terror.

The psychology in this case is simple, someone who was always a nobody becomes great for having this unusual ability to mess up with people's will and minds, but here is when Mulder comes to the rescue and as a psychologist doesn't get involved in the game in that famous but terrifying Russian roulette scene.One of my favorite part is the closeness between Mulder and Scully. The touch in the car, the hand touching and the hand holding is just a small indication of how much they need about each other.moreless

"Please explain to me the scientific detail of 'the whammy.'"

For a stand-alone episode of the X-Files, this was an awesome episode. From start to finish, it was engaging and very eerie. The idea of a man being able to have complete control over your choices is a scary one, and Vince Gilligan did a great job here helping us believe in the villain.

Like "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" earlier this season, this episode didn't need a conspiracy or any government secrets to make it mysterious. Instead, we had a simple cat and mouse-type game between Mulder and Scully and Moddell. When Moddell broke into the FBI and was approached by Skinner, I was thinking about how great the scene works in making us unsure of what will happen. Will Skinner get attacked by him? Will he resist the Pusher's powers? It was just a great scene, the type of scene that Gilligan would use again and again in 'Breaking Bad,' a show that shares nothing in plot but everything in atmosphere.And I can't say enough about the relationship between Mulder and Scully. Just like any procedural with a male and female team, it seems like the writers are giving us little tidbits here and there, hinting at the two forming some sort of relationship but never going the full distance. It'd be interesting to see if that would ever happen, but as somebody who has never watched the show before, it's fun not to know.Definitely one of the best, if not the best of Season 3.moreless

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (11)

This episode contains a reference to the second season episode, "The Host". In the introduction to this episode, Pusher is seen taking a tabloid titled the Worldwide Enquirer from a rack in a supermarket. Its cover reads, "IT'S BACK! Flukeman found washed up in Martha's Vineyard!", above a sketch of the Flukeman.

When Pusher is first apprehended by Agent Burst, it seems rather odd that the cruiser in which they are traveling is the last vehicle in the convoy? During the transport of a suspected serial killer, you would think that his vehicle would be in the middle of the convoy, with the vehicles in front blocking traffic, and the vehicles following pulling rear escort.

When Modell gets into the FBI building by convincing the guard that his homemade pass is real, why did no one else question why he was walking around the place with a brown envelope with 'Pass' written in black pen on his jacket? He only spoke to the guard, Holly and Skinner while there so only they could possibly have been under his influence.

Regarding the issue of a revolver and shell casings:If you freeze the video when Mulder looks at the casings on the floor, you can clearly see 2 casings and 3 intact cartridges all lying near each other. This is because Modell emptied them out in order to play roulette.

When Modell "talks" Burst to death, the cops in the room stop Mulder and Scully from disconnecting the call. You would think that two FBI Agents would hold rank over local PD Officers on any case.

Not necessarily. Actually, in most cases, the state government has much more widespread power than the federal government. It's just that the feds can supersede the state government on very specific issues. Policing is usually up to the state officials, with the federal government very reluctant to take over or interject. And even when their involvement is necessary, they would usually not take charge of the investigation.

In the hospital scene Mulder hears 2 gunshots and then finds the guard and the technician, but there are more than 2 bullet casings on the floor. Also the guard's weapon was a revolver, which doesn't automatically eject casings.

QUOTES (13)

Holly: Agents? Here's volume ten.(Scully stares at her black eye, Holly is embarrassed and lowers her gaze)Scully: Sorry, I couldn't help noticing.Holly: I was in Georgetown this weekend. A guy knocked me down, stole my purse.Mulder: Did they get him?Holly: Do they ever? (Mulder and Scully stare at her) No offence. Excuse me.

Mulder: You know, we thought he was undergoing treatment but we were wrong.Scully: What do you mean?Mulder: Read his chart. The MRIs were gauging how much life he had left, but he consistently refused treatment. The tumor remained operable right up to the end, but he refused to have it removed.Scully: Why?Mulder: I think it's like you said. He was always such a... little man. This was finally something that made him feel big.

Pusher: Your turn, Scully. Got to play by the rules. Pull the trigger, Mulder.Scully: Mulder, fight him. You can fight this.Pusher: Come on. Pull the trigger, Mulder. She shot you, I read it in her files. Payback time... shoot the little spy!

Fox Broadcasting had some problems with the Russian roulette scene. Apparently there had never been a Russian roulette sequence in any other one-hour drama on network tv in the US up to that time. It took some serious discussion between Vince Gilligan, the writer of this episode, and the network to allow the sequence.

The character of Modell is similar to the character of Andy McGee in the movie Firestarter, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name. In fact,McGee's power is described as pushing, just as Modell's is, and he suffers from exhaustion after using it, just as Modell does.

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